Define Evolution

[Rastov]

Don't go consult a dictionary

Define it as you know it.

What does it say about the age of the Earth?
Does it explain where life comes from?
Does it explain how a monkey can grow a soul one day?
Does it contradict Noah's flood?
Using evolution could a dog grow wings one day?
What does it teach about good and evil?
What does it teach about God?

I think this thread could be an interesting.

[Falconer02]

Evolution defined by me = devoloping through either a short (mircoevolution) or VERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYY LONG (macroevolution) period of time.

What does it say about the age of the Earth?

The earth is very very old through any area of scientific study and the evidence found in the field.

Does it explain where life comes from?

Comes from (birth)? Check. Came from (history)? Check. New stuff is being discovered which helps us get a better grasp on this question.

Does it explain how a monkey can grow a soul one day?

That depends on your religious affiliations. One can argue that all animals have souls. But evolution does not say we came from monkeys. This is probably one of the most common mistakes people make that don't know anything on the subject.

Does it contradict Noah's flood?

It's hard to contradict something that never happened. There's tangible proof of evolution.

Using evolution could a dog grow wings one day?

If the environment got very strange by our current standards and through millions and millions of years passing-- if dogs have struggled and succeeded to exist to take on this strange quality to survive its environment, sure. The probem is that dogs (and humans for that matter) don't have the correct bone and muscle structure as birds do, so I don't see this realistically happening. A possibility? Sure. Probability? Pretty far our there.

Strange stuff like this happens with bugs all the time through microevolution. New traits and physical qualities appear. I know it sounds weird, but welcome to nature.

Edit: I think a better question would be "what type of environment would have to exist for dogs to evolve with wings?"

What does it teach about good and evil?

Nothing too large I think. Just that the brain developed in modern humans enough to where we can define things with these 2 natures. But from there, these are different branches of study-- psychology, philosophy, sociology, etc.

What does it teach about God?

Nothing unless you throw religion into the mix. Remember-- evolution is not a religion.

I think this thread could be an interesting.

It could be.

[FuzzyCottonsocks]

Pearl Jam. 

[queenofnines]

Think of life like a tree (says it in the bible) The Tree of Life. Evolution is just the Branches.

You said you didn't believe in the god of the Bible, psh.

Don't go consult a dictionary

We need to encourage people to consult their dictionaries, though.  And encyclopedias.  Because all most people have heard in regards to evolution is this ridiculous rumor that we are monkeys.

Define it as you know it.

Change over time via natural selection and mutations.

What does it say about the age of the Earth?

That it is very, very old, as much time is required to result in the complexity that we have today.

Does it explain where life comes from?

No, it explains what happens AFTER life has started.

Does it explain how a monkey can grow a soul one day?

There are no souls period; this is an ignorant question on many levels.

Does it contradict Noah's flood?

Yes, because god just magically spoke all of the animals into existence at once.

Using evolution could a dog grow wings one day?

If there was environmental pressure for dogs to need to fly, then yes.

What does it teach about good and evil?

Absolutely nothing.  Those are human inventions.

What does it teach about God?

That the Christian god doesn't exist, because evolution contradicts what is stated in Genesis.  Also that a god in general probably doesn't exist, as all of these changes and mutations were able to happen naturally and on their own.

[Falconer02]

Probably means worth believing although unproven.

Nope. Example of this being false- I don't play many casino games because the probability in winning is so high that I don't see it as worth putting the money into. It's not worth believing that I will win.

This is an agnostic way to look at it. Agnostics don't know and don't really care and don't want to think about it because they are just trying to live their life.

This is partially right-- this is one of the many branches of agnosticism. Not agnosticism in general. Some care and some don't.

ALIENS are not a GOD.

...what?

[queenofnines]

Exactly Probably and what does probably mean?

Probably means worth believing although unproven. This is an agnostic way to look at it. Agnostics don't know and don't really care and don't want to think about it because they are just trying to live their life.

This probably that you speak of means you should probably figure out what you know and quit throwing out God don't exist and haha your ignorant because face it...you don't know and you see God existing as probable.

That is not atheism. Atheists say NO GOD DOESN'T EXIST and NO THERE IS NO SUPREME (LARGER) BEING THAN US. There is no probably in that.

No, marieelissa, I am an atheist.  I do not leave any possibility open for there being a god like agnostics do.  But I'm also not an idiot, and because I am not an idiot, I can't 100% say there is no god just like we can't 100% say we are sure about ANYTHING.

[queenofnines]

  Falconer  I replied to you.

[jordandog]

The questions posed have been answered, by 2 people, in much the same way I would answer them, so I won't be redundant with that right now. As far as the apes and penguins? I have NO idea what books or sources you used when "you studied a lot into evolution", but please do not become a teacher, young minds are far too impressionable. As soon as anyone hears the word evolution, they go to Charles Darwin, apes, and gorillas. The fact is, Darwin initially studied birds (rhea's, finches, mockingbirds) and the tortoises of the Galapagos Islands. It wasn't until he saw an orangutan in a zoo that anything was noted as far as the resemblance they showed to humans. This is a very simplified breakdown, but this topic is too hard to go into fully without scientific knowledge or citings.

You either believe in Evolution or you believe in God. You cannot believe in the same thing at the same time unless you have no belief and searching for the one that fits you best.

Funny, I know quite a few theists who have studied and accepted many parts of the evolutionist 'theory' and especially the process of natural selection and survival of the fittest species.

"Probably means worth believing although unproven."
No, something that is probable is 'likely' and that does not mean "worth believing"

[jordandog]

"our ancesters the Apes"
ARRGGHHH!!!! 

Yeah, I'll jump on that research advice from you, marieelissa.

[Falconer02]

Falconer  I replied to you.

I see now! I will respond to you later! Sorry for the wait.

[tzs]

What is so hard to understand about this:

Species close to the last common ancestor of gorillas, chimpanzees and humans may be represented by Nakalipithecus fossils found in Kenya and Ouranopithecus found in Greece. Molecular evidence suggests that between 8 and 4 million years ago, first the gorillas, and then the chimpanzees (genus Pan) split off from the line leading to the humans; human DNA is approximately 98.4% identical to that of chimpanzees when comparing single nucleotide polymorphisms (see Human evolutionary genetics).


Today, all humans belong to one, undivided by species barrier, population of Homo sapiens sapiens. However, according to the "Out of Africa" model this is not the first species of hominids: the first species of genus Homo, Homo habilis, evolved in East Africa at least 2 Ma, and members of this species populated different parts of Africa in a relatively short time. Homo erectus evolved more than 1.8 Ma, and by 1.5 Ma had spread throughout the Old World.
Anthropologists have been divided as to whether current human population evolved as one interconnected population (as postulated by the Multiregional Evolution hypothesis), or evolved only in East Africa, speciated, and then migrating out of Africa and replaced human populations in Eurasia (called the "Out of Africa" Model or the "Complete Replacement" Model).


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_evolution

I don't think you understand the question......the person that started this post said YOUR definition of Evolution, NOT what you can copy off of wikipedia. Just stick to your own guns, don't use someone else's information! I could post wiki quotes all day long, and it don't make ya smarter or more versed on the subject-It's what you know, not about what you can look up real quick to make an intelectual sounding, relative post!!
STOP CUTTING AND PASTING WIKI FACTS!!!!

[tzs]

HELLOOOOOOO!?!!!!
AREN'T WE IN THE DEBATE AND DISCUSS SECTION? If I can remember correctly...Am I in the wrong place??? No, I'm prettyy sure this  IS DEBATE and DISCUSS!!!! 

-Whew-that was scary!!!!!

Unfortunately marieelisa, I do not have the power to make spontaneous flames-so your request is unfounded.
I will get back to you on that one!

Speaking of flames-maybe this will make you feel all better inside!!!!! It always makes me feel better!

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/4Z7ME7PVmQk/default.jpg

This is reccomended by my Daughter-Make sure you turn the volume  way up, and have a beautiful time!!!

Evolution is Not a "desperate attempt"-its proven scientific fact- and if it were not true, you wouldn't be holding that kitten of yours, because feral cats would have never evolved to become domesticated and trust humans-therefore no pet kitties for you, think about it!!!!!!!!!

[Falconer02]

Evolution is Not a "desperate attempt"-its proven scientific fact- and if it were not true, you wouldn't be holding that kitten of yours, because feral cats would have never evolved to become domesticated and trust humans-therefore no pet kitties for you, think about it!!!!!!!!!

She has started trolling again. She has also told us she has some mental issues in the past. You aren't going to get anywhere with her so don't waste your powers of argumenting on someone incapable of learning the reality of things.

[showbert22]

I don't need a dictionary to discuss the process by which inevitable mutation to the individual's and the species genome
Internal and external conditions operate to change/damage the current DNA configuration. Lethal changes that impact the individuals survival or their ability to reproduce successfully lead to extinction. Beneficial changes lead to increased longevity and greater reproductive. If your parents didn't have any children, chances are that you won't either. Without secondary corroboration the Noah fable is hardly more than a myth. There is geologic evidence of a huge flood thousands of years in the area for the Black sea when it busted the natural dam that  kept it filled. It flooded most of the known world. Not hard to see the start of a campfire story there. Soul you say? did you know the human corpse weighs 6 to 8 ounces less than the live specimen. That experiment has been done repeatedly. What is it that's lost at death? If Noah was 4000 years ago, Evidence demonstrates the Earth is about 4 1/2 Billion years old and the first fossils of single cells appear about 3 1/2 Billion yrs ago So if that was the origin of life. Evolution must be a very slow process  the likelyhood of growing dogwings or chimpsouls overnight is pretty slim. I have a hard time seeing good or evil in any of these processes. And God? I hope you find Him if you need Him. I strongly suspect there is a force greater than humankind but I don't feel guided or led through life nor do  I need it

[jordandog]

"An Ode to A Troll"

Trolls, Trolls - an irritating beast
They yell the loudest, but know the least
There is no point in reasoning or trying to teach
For they seem to know all, but truth's beyond their reach
They'll yell to be heard, with nothing to say
Rude and obnoxious, they 'delete' and run away
Until hiding behind a screen is just too appealing
And before you know it they're back,
With enough BS to leave your head reeling!
At cutting and pasting, they seem to be a master
But ask them for THEIR thoughts, and they run away all the faster
They leave behind a trail of hard to read postings,
Because looking like an A** doesn't fit with lies and boasting
At times they are hard to see, they play all 'goodnesss and light'
But eventually show their faces, because the TRUTH is a war they can't fight....

(I don't have to cite a 'credit' to anyone for this - I wrote it.)